3 sentenced for imam murder in Xinjiang

A Xinjiang court on Sunday sentenced two people to death and another to life behind bars for the murder of a prestigious imam in July.

Gheni Hasan and Nurmemet Abidilimit were sentenced to death on charges of forming and leading terrorist groups and murder, while Atawulla Tursun was given life imprisonment on charges of taking part in terrorist groups and murder, said the verdict by the Kashgar Intermediate People’s Court.

The court said the gang, led by Gheni Hasan, was influenced by religious extremism and trained its members to murder patriotic religious figures. On July 30, Nurmemet Abidilimit and two other members killed Jume Tahir outside the Id Kah Mosque in Kashgar. Two gang members were shot dead by police in the manhunt.